Bahrain Grand Prix: Drivers

Everything you need to know about this year's F1 drivers

By
Time Out Bahrain staff
28 March 2013

Red BullSebastian VettelNationality: GermanDOB: 3/7/872012 result: 1stComment: Scored his first pole position of the season at the Bahrain race last year and went on to take his third successive drivers’ title. Definitely one to watch this year.

Mark WebberNationality: AustralianDOB: 27/8/762012 result: 6thComment: A mixed season last year saw him as Red Bull’s main contender half way through the season but a disappointing second half saw him coming in in sixth place.

FerrariFernando AlonsoNationality: SpanishDOB: 29/7/812012 result: 2ndComment: Took comfortable wins at Malaysia, Valencia and Germany to be in first place at the halfway point of last year’s championship before being edged out by Red Bull’s Vettel. Two-time world champ could do well.

Felipe MassoNationality: BrazilianDOB: 25/4/812012 result: 7thComment: Pretty much overshadowed by his Ferrari teammate in the 2012 season, he pulled it back with a couple of podium finishes in Japan and Brazil to hold onto his seat this year. He had a very good season opener.

McLarenJenson ButtonNationality: BritishDOB: 19/1/802012 result: 5thComment: Button had a great start to the 2012 season but then technical difficulties took over before he pulled it back later on in the year and recorded an impressive victory at the season finale in Brazil. Always a Bahrain favourite.

Sergio PerezNationality: MexicanDOB: 26/1/902012 result: 10thComment: A season of highs and lows last year with a couple of podium finishes in Malaysia and Canada but less promising results elsewhere. He moves from Sauber to replace Lewis Hamilton in the McLaren team.

LotusKimi RaikkonenNationality: FinishDOB: 17/10/792012 result: 3rdComment: After leaving the sport in 2010 to take up rallying, Raikkonen made an impressive return last year with five podiums in the first 11 races and consistently good driving to take third place overall.

Romain GrosjeanNationality: SwissDOB: 17/4/862012 result: 8thComment: A mixed season last year with a few podium finishes and a number of high-profile crashes, one of which earned him a one-race ban.

MercedesLewis HamiltonNationality: BritishDOB: 7/1/852012 result: 4thComment: The Brit favourite had a few mechanical gremlins early in the season last year with McLaren before going on to take wins in Canada, Hungary, Italy and the USA. He moves to a new team this year with hopes of a better performance.

Nico RosbergNationality: GermanDOB: 27/6/852012 result: 9thComment: Took his first pole position and his first victory in last year’s opening rounds before the season went downhill.

SauberNico HulkenburgNationality: GermanDOB: 19/8/872012 result: 11thComment: Moves over to Sauber from Force India where he had a fifth place finish in Valencia and performed well in Brazil before getting caught up with Hamilton.

Esteban GutierrezNationality: MexicanDOB: 5/8/912012 result: N/AComment: Maiden season for the 21-year-old Mexican who finished the 2012 season in third place in the GP2 series. He was also Sauber’s reserve driver last year before being signed up to the first team for the 2013 season.

Force IndiaPaul di RestaNationality: BritishDOB: 16/4/862012 result: 14thComment: Had several good drives last season including a sixth-place finish here in Bahrain followed by a few sevenths and a fourth in Singapore.

Adrian SutilNationality: GermanDOB: 11/1/832012 result: N/AComment: Didn’t compete last year but has got the jump on the team’s reserve driver to sign for Force India this season having previously driven for the side from 2009-2011.

WilliamsPastor MaldonadoNationality: VenezuelanDOB: 9/3/852012 result: 15thComment: Mixed fortunes in 2012 with Maldonado becoming the first Venezuelan to win an F1 race but at the same time taking flack from the stewards for repeated collisions.

Valtteri BottasNationality: FinnishDOB: 28/8/892012 result: N/AComment: Last year’s official reserve driver, his performance in a number of free practice sessions in place of regular driver Bruno Senna led to him replacing the Brazilian in this year’s team. Bottas could be one to watch having taken the GP3 series title at his first try in 2011.

Toro RossoJean-Eric VergneNationality: FrenchDOB: 5/4/902012 result: 17thComment: Not a great season in 2012 but took eighth place in Malaysia, Belgium, Korea and Brazil bringing him in one place ahead of his team mate. Both stay on with Toro Rosso this year.

Daniel RicciardoNationality: AustralianDOB: 1/7/892012 result: 18thComment: Had a good start to the 2012 season in Australia but was plagued with mechanical difficulties the rest of the year.

CaterhamCharles PicNationality: FrenchDOB: 15/2/902012 result: 21stComment: Did well at Marussia last year and kept team mate Timo Glock on his toes before moving over to Caterham for the 2013 season.

Giedo van der GardeNationality: DutchDOB: 25/4/852012 result: N/AComment: Moves up to the Caterham first team after four years in GP2. He was also Caterham’s official reserve driver last year and drove in several free practice sessions.

MarussiaJules BianchiNationality: FrenchDOB: 3/8/892012 result: N/AComment: Reserve driver for Force India in 2012, he narrowly missed making the first team this season before signing with Marussia.

Max ChiltonNationality: BritishDOB: 21/4/912012 result: N/AComment: Tested with Marussia last year while competing in GP2 and became the team’s reserve driver before signing up officially in December.